Winfield e



(No Model.)

W. E. JAMES.

GHEOK REIN- ATTACHMENT.

No. 338,230. Patented Mar, 16, 1886.

WITNESSES N. ETEHE, PImkrLiQlxcgmpheL \Vushinglon. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ WINFIELD JAMES, OF SOUTH OIL CITY, PENN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOHN S. DOWNING AND JACOB CAMP, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

CHECK-REIN ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,230, dated March 16, 1886.

Application filed November 12, 1885. Serial No. 182,591. (No model.)

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TVINEIELD E. JAMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Oil City, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Rein At tachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to check-rein attachments; and it consists in the improvements hereinafter fully described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure-1 is a perspective view of my improved attachment, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the attachment.

The body or case of the attachment is composed of a cylinder, A, which is closed at its ends and has depending from its under side a threaded bolt, B, which is designed to engage the terret-nut. The body or case A presents a chamber for a purpose explained hereinafter. The said body or case A is provided at its front side with a transverse slot, a, which is guarded externally by a flat tube, O,which eX- tends horizontally from said slot, and is braced relative to the cylinder by means of a bracket, 1), located on the upper side of the tube 0, at the point of its junction with the cylinder. This bracket 1) is provided with parallel side cars, which form the bearing for a pivot-pin, 0, upon which is mounted an angle-lever consisting of a short horizontal portion, at, and vertically-curved portion e. The upper extreme part of the portion c is bent and bifurcated to form a catch-lever, f. The free end of the portion d is reduced and bent downward to enter a vertical perforation formed in the upper and lower parts of the tube 0.

9 refers to an expanding spring which is secured to the cylinder A and portion 6, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2.

Centrally and transversely within the cylinder A is located a shaft, E,which is secured at each end by means of a screw, 71, which passes through the side of the case. Upon said shaft E is mounted a cylinder, F, which is adapted to turn on said shaft, and intermediately between said cylinder and shaft is arranged a coiled spring, G, one end of which is attached t9 the shaft while the other end is internally connected to the cylinder. A strap, H, is secured at one end to the outer face of the cylinder, while its other end extends through the tube 0 and has a ring, i, attached to its end by means of a clip, j. The said strap H is provided at various points with perforations Iawhich are designed to successively register with the perforations in the tube 0 as the strap is fed in or out of the chamber, as the case may be.

The check-rein,which may be overdraw or otherwise, is connected to the ring 73. Now, when it is desired to release the check-rein, the driver manipulates his whip so that the lash thereof will engage the bifurcated catch f of the lever D and enable the driver to draw the portion a backward, thereby elevating the free end of the portion d and withdrawing the reduced end from the tube D and strap H. The horse can then lower his head, drawing a length of strap from the cylinder to permit free movement, the feed of the strap resulting in a rotation of the cylinder F and the winding of the spring G upon the shaft. After a suflicient length of strap is fed out the tension on the lever D may be released sufficiently to enable its reduced end to engage one of the perforations in said strap, and allowing the horse to hold his head in a lowered position without experiencing the strain which would otherwise be occasioned.

WVhen it is desired to restore the check, the lever is again operated to disengage the strap, and the torsional action of the spring G effects a reverse rotation of the cylinder F and the winding thereon of the strap H. The lever D can then be released and engage the strap through the action of the spring 9.

I am aware that heretofore it has been proposed to construct a check device for a purpose similar to mine; but in such device the outer case was movable as well as the springcyliuder, and in order to manipulate the catch it was necessary to operate the outer case. Furthermore, a series of complex plates and ears were provided to catch and retain the strap. In view of the above, however, I do not Wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, any features proposed to be embodied in said devices. 7

I claim- 1. The combination, in a check device, of a rigid cylinder or case, a cylinder journaled therein, a spring acting torsionally on said cylinder, a strap Winding on said cylinder and passing through the outer cylinder, and a locking-lever pivoted on said case and adapted to be engaged and become disengaged from said strap, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a check device, of an outer fixed cylinder or case, a shaft located XVINFIELD E. JAMES.

Attest:

E. 1?. ORONYN, HUGH O. GRAHAM. 

